Seventy years ago today, August 6, 1945. the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing at least 129,000. The gun-type weapon (one sub-critical mass fired into another subcritical mass) exploded 2000 feet above the city, unleashing the power equivalent to 12 to 15 thousand tons of TNT.
The Potsdam declaration, demanding unconditional surrender, had been broadcast directly to Japanese civilians over KSAI radio, and millions of leaflets had been dropped.
Preparations were underway for an invasion of the home islands, and U.S. planners estimated U.S. casualties between 130,000 and 220,000, with between 5 and 10 million Japanese deaths. Nevertheless, the Japanese leadership did not heed the Potsdam Declaration, and made preparations to continue defending against an apocalyptic invasion.
On August 14, only after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hirohito addressed the nation by radio:
Moreover, the enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon with the power to destroy many innocent lives and do incalculable damage. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.
References
Click Here For Today’s Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Cartoon 